Rebellious Jukebox: Sonic Youth

Innovation is rare enough as it is, but for it to be one of the hallmarks of your career is surely something to be proud of. Sonic Youth never struck me as being experimental for the sake of it either and they never crossed that line that can make something unlistenable (I have a pretty high threshold for that, but still). They can rock out, they are not scared of melody, they find a way to tip their hat to their heroes without coming off as karaoke.
This far into their game you know that they are comfortable in what they are doing — pushing forwards, keeping it fresh. Sonic Youth have a sound but aren’t trapped within it. They add new things into the mix all the time to keep things spinning. The other thing is, you may know who the member of Sonic Youth are, but how much do you know about them? How much do you need to know about them? It all seems so effortless and they work hard — just look at their discography; look at their side-projects. They have a template it would do everyone good to study — not so they ca copy of course, but s they might get a clue about where to tread and where to avoid.
My first experience was Experimental Jetset Trash and No Star — then I travelled backwards and forwards through the continuum of their sound and it programmed me for so many different sonic experiences I might not otherwise have been hip to. That album remains a favourite with Daydream Nation close on its heels but there is such a variety to choose from.